Explore where native state forests are located and how they are managed for timber and other uses.
Native forest types
Most of Queensland’s state-owned native forests are comparatively slow-growing.
With around 3 million hectares of state forests and a similar area on other tenures, Queensland’s state-owned native forests contain substantial forest resources.
Our native forest timber resources occur mainly in 2 broad forest types:
- Eucalypt forest and woodland: along the Queensland coast and in southern, mid-west and northern Queensland
- White cypress pine open forest and woodlands: located west of the Great Dividing Range in the southern areas of the state
Growth rates and timber volumes in the wetter hardwood forests closer to the coast are usually higher due to generally more favourable conditions. In the drier western forests, growth rates and volumes tend to be lower.
Uses and values of Queensland native timber
Find out what Queensland native timber is used for and why it is valued.
Show transcript
0:03 Native timber, selectively harvested from state-owned forests in Queensland, is used for high-value building and construction purposes.
0:11 Our Queensland hardwood is renowned for its strength, durability, fire resistance, and natural beauty.
0:17 It is widely used for bridges, railways, and especially power poles, which are important for a state as vast as Queensland.
0:24 The attractive appearance of species such as spotted gum also makes it perfect for flooring, decking, and other construction applications.
Plantation ownership and management
Our department does not manage timber plantations. While much of Queensland’s plantation estate is on state forest land, these plantations are owned and managed by a private company, HQPlantations.
These plantations are mostly pine. When they reach maturity, they are usually clear-felled (meaning all trees are removed from a chosen area). This is similar to other agricultural crops that are planted in rows and harvested.
Plantation grown timber is used for a range of products, including framing, plywood and sawn timber used for interior design.
Queensland’s approach to native forest harvesting
Find out how Queensland state forests support our environment and our communities.
Show transcript
0:08 Queensland state forests support our environment and our communities.
0:13 Our forest management system is independently certified to make sure harvesting operations are responsibly managed.
0:20 When harvesting native timber, we only harvest selected trees suitable for commercial use.
0:26 More than half of the trees are retained to support local habitat, and gaps in the forest created during harvesting promote natural regeneration.
0:36 Before selective harvesting takes place, we develop a detailed plan that identifies the key features of the harvest area, and the flora, fauna, soil, water and cultural values to be protected.
0:50 Selective harvest operations provide logs used for sawn timber, poles and bridge girders.
0:55 They are processed in towns across regional Queensland, supporting local communities and the economy.
1:01 These timber products are used locally and interstate to build and renovate homes and other structures.
1:07 They also support essential infrastructure, like bridges and the electricity distribution network.
1:13 Creating jobs and delivering the products and services that support our communities, now and in the future, is only possible using responsible harvesting systems that protect and regenerate this amazing renewable resource.
More information
Read more about how we look after the environment.
Last updated: 16 Oct 2025